General Sir F. E. Morgan appointed Chief of Staff to Supreme
Allied Commander to begin planning for the invasion of
NW Europe.
Battle of the Ruhr continues with fifteen major raids by Bomber
Command in April–May.page 448

General Eisenhower appointed Supreme Allied Commander
of Expeditionary Forces in UK. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur
Tedder became Deputy Supreme Commander. General
Montgomery appointed Commander-in-Chief British Group of
Invasion Armies.

1944

January

Attacks by RAF and USAAF against flying-bomb installations
in the Pas de Calais intensified.

1500 aircraft of US 8th Air Force dropped 3500 tons of bombs
to assist American offensive in St. Lo area.

30

American troops entered Granville and Avranches.

31

American breakthrough at Avranches.

August

4

Meteor jet aircraft first operational – against flying bombs.

7–8

1018 aircraft of Bomber Command despatched against concentrations south of Caen in support of First Canadian Army.

7–12

Defeat of German counter-attack at Mortain, largely by air
action.

8

500 US heavy bombers attacked targets south of Caen to
prevent German forces escaping from the Falaise pocket.

14

672 Bomber Command aircraft attacked targets north of Falaise
in support of the Canadian Army.

15

Allied forces landed on coast of southern France following a
four-day intensive air bombardment and attacks by airborne
forces.

17

Canadian forces took Falaise. Retreating enemy decimated by
air attacks.

18

The U-boat threat to the sea communications of the Expeditionary Force considered at an end. During the period Coastal
Command aircraft had sunk 30 U-boats and shared in five
further kills with naval forces.

20

First bridgehead across the Seine established by American
forces at Mantes.